High school fencing league holds championships

CUMMING, Ga. — With a final fling of their foils, high school fencers fought for first place in the final tournament of the 2013-2014 Georgia High School Fencing League season.

On Feb. 22, Northview High School in Duluth hosted the individual championship where the top 84 fencers of each gender competed. They qualified for the individual championship by competing in three GHSFL tournaments during the season.

Pope High School’s Katie Van Riper and Luben Jelezarov took home first place.

On March 1, Pope High School in Marietta hosted the team championship where eligible fencers from 15 high schools dueled to hold the title for the year’s end.

The metro Atlanta schools were from Cobb, Forsyth, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

Alpharetta’s women’s epee and Pope’s men’s epee took home the gold.

“I am so pleased with how everyone is competing today,” said Dorothy Stantion, team mom leader for Alpharetta. “It’s been very close, competitive fencing.”

Stanton said many of the fencers were not only fencing for the last time of the season, but also of their high school careers.

The teams are seeing many of their stars graduate and head to college, leaving the opportunity for younger fencers to prove their schools proud.